Foundations

Unconventional Wisdom

By Sarah Murray

The Rockefeller Foundation’s “scan and search” approach casts a wide net to identify the issues it’s best suited to tackle.

Economic Development

360-Degree Development

By Esha Chhabra 2

Swades Foundation is working to break nonprofit community development efforts out of their silos in India.

Philanthropy & Funding

Globalizing Philanthropy

By Eric Nee

At a time of rising nationalism and cutbacks in foreign aid in countries around the world, philanthropists play a critical role, not just in providing money, but in fostering cooperation and goodwill between people and nations.

Philanthropy & Funding

Innovating Philanthropy

By Kathleen Kelly Janus 2

A new generation of wealth is making a difference using powerful technology, inventing new financial models to better leverage capital, and rigorously focusing on getting proven results.

Technology

Open Source Software Is Philanthropy

By John E. Jones 5

When properly supported, open source software can spark innovation, accelerate social good, and ultimately help change the world.

Philanthropy & Funding

Philanthropy’s Missing Trillions

By Jennifer Xia and Patrick Schmitt 14

A demographic wave could soon funnel unprecedented dollars into philanthropy, but few nonprofits are poised to take advantage of the largest wealth transfer in human history.

Impact Investing

Talking About Ethics in Impact Investing

By Stephen Muers 3

To make the best and most consistent decisions, impact investors need to think about values as much as they think about growth and financial returns.

Foundations

The Charity That Big Tech Built

By Marc Gunther 1

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation has grown to become one of the world’s most well-funded foundations. But who in the Valley benefits from this largesse?

Measurement & Evaluation

Harnessing the Power of Evidence

By Anne Kazimirski

Better use of evidence and developments in evaluation practice can shift the power dynamic between funders, service-delivering organizations, and service users.

Collaboration

Collaborating after the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

By Barbara Newhouse 4

Following the largest single act of social media fundraising, the ALS Association was faced with a “good crisis”—and a big challenge.